31st August 2010, Kuala Lumpur – Here are the final rankings of the 70 participating chess teams in the ASTRO Merdeka Team Rapid 2010 held over three days, 29-31st August 2010. Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib, President of MCF, Dirk Jordan from Germany, Ms Jolyn Gasper, Head of Corporate Responsibility and En. Abdul Hamid b Majid, Malaysian Chess Federation did the speeches and gave the prizes to the winners to the list of winners below.

Pix 1. The winning chess team: Chesskidz Men’s Team.

30th ASTRO Merdeka Rapid Team Open Chess Championship 2010

Rank

Team

Gam.

+

=

-

MP

Pts.

1

Chesskidz Men's Team

9

8

1

0

17

27½

2

Bengal Tigers

9

7

1

1

15

24½

3

Crusher

9

6

2

1

14

27

4

Marfori Fighters

9

6

1

2

13

24½

5

Rusty Nails

9

5

3

1

13

24½

6

SMS Gold

9

4

5

0

13

23

7

Jakarta B (U16)

9

6

0

3

12

26

8

International Rhapsody

9

6

0

3

12

25½

9

Jakarta A

9

5

2

2

12

24½

10

Magic

9

5

2

2

12

23½

11

Klang Valley Koalas

9

5

2

2

12

22½

12

Klang Valley Kiwis

9

6

0

3

12

22½

13

Uzbek Connection

9

5

2

2

12

22

14

CLOBA-80

9

5

1

3

11

23½

15

ASTRO Arena

9

5

1

3

11

22½

16

Perak State Team

9

5

1

3

11

22½

17

Young & Danger ! (U16)

9

5

1

3

11

22

18

PFS Chess Club Senior

9

5

1

3

11

22

19

Sabah

9

4

3

2

11

21½

20

Rorschach

9

5

1

3

11

21

21

Team Works (U16)

9

5

1

3

11

20

22

Petronas

9

5

0

4

10

21

23

Penang

9

4

2

3

10

21

24

ASTRO Ladies

9

5

0

4

10

20½

25

Mamak, The Sequel

9

4

2

3

10

20

26

Sarawak

9

4

2

3

10

20

27

Sabah B

9

5

0

4

10

19½

28

PCA Juniors U12

9

5

0

4

10

18½

29

Bangka Belitung

9

4

2

3

10

18

30

Polgar Team (U16)

9

4

2

3

10

16½

31

Cili Padi (U12)

9

4

1

4

9

22

32

The Knights (U12)

9

4

1

4

9

20

33

Penang Dinobot

9

4

1

4

9

19½

34

Chesskidz U-10

9

4

1

4

9

19

35

Chung Ling High School

9

4

1

4

9

18½

36

Knightstalker

9

3

3

3

9

18½

37

SMK St Paul A

9

4

1

4

9

18½

38

USM Reborn

9

4

1

4

9

17

39

PFS Chess Club A U16

9

4

1

4

9

17

40

Young & Adult Union

9

4

1

4

9

16½

41

Kids for Chess Independence (U16)

9

3

3

3

9

16

42

MH Pintar NS Junior Trainers

9

3

3

3

9

14

43

Chessteens Inviolable

9

3

2

4

8

18

44

LOHA 1

9

4

0

5

8

18

45

Chess Ninja

9

4

0

5

8

17½

46

Ampang Gunner

9

3

2

4

8

16

47

PFS Chess Club B U16

9

4

0

5

8

15½

48

Chess Warrior

9

4

0

5

8

15

49

SJK (C) Kepong 2

9

3

2

4

8

13½

50

Penang Juniors

9

3

1

5

7

15½

51

Multimedia University

9

2

3

4

7

15½

52

Banting Kids Team

9

3

1

5

7

15

53

LOHA 2

9

3

1

5

7

15

54

Kids for Chess Freedom (U16)

9

3

1

5

7

14½

55

SK Satria Jaya, Kuching (U16)

9

3

1

5

7

14½

56

Adults for Chess

9

3

1

5

7

14

57

SMK St Paul B

9

3

1

5

7

13½

58

Winx Club

9

3

1

5

7

11½

59

Prison Team

9

2

2

5

6

15½

60

Mini Pawn

9

2

2

5

6

14

61

The Young Ones

9

3

0

6

6

13½

62

SJKC Jalan Davidson (U12)

9

3

0

6

6

12½

63

SK SBS Satria

9

2

2

5

6

12½

64

PCA Juniors U8

9

3

0

6

6

12

65

SK SBS Putra

9

2

1

6

5

12½

66

MH Pintar Penang Sarawak Juniors

9

2

1

6

5

10½

67

SK Sabak Kota Baru (U16)

9

2

0

7

4

10

68

SK SBS Wira

9

2

0

7

4

8½

69

SK SBS Waja

9

0

1

8

1

6½

70

SK SBS Saga

9

0

1

8

1

5½

PRIZE WINNERS FOR THE ASTRO MERDEKA TEAM RAPID 2010 are shown as in the table below.

It is the final round now. GiLoCatur believes many matches have completed since the round started an hour ago at 11.00am. So, what would be the results? Can Chesskidz Men's Team that includes two Pinoy GMs win the event? Or can the Klang Valley Koalas stopped them? Can all-Malaysian-team-players SMS Gold led by IM Mok makes the Malaysian chess community proud by winning the top three placings?

How about another all-Malaysians team, Young and Danger? Can they outclass Rusty Nails? If they can, it is quite a sterling performance for the team that comprises MSS Selangor state players. Being on the top 5 boards in the final round itself is already an achievement in GiLoCatur's opinion. Another two all-Malaysians teams among the top 10 boards are Petronas led by IM Mas and Mamak, the Sequel whose members are Nik Farouqi, Saprin, Fairin and Abang Bro Kamaluddin. Two state teams - Penang and Sabah, face each other on the 10th board.

For the rest teams especially comprise our juniors, GiLoCatur hopes they will learn and gain a lot by participating in the Merdeka Rapid Team event. Keep learning and playing chess especially in quality chess tournaments like this so that Malaysia will have a very big pool of excellent chess players. Keep the dream of becoming title chess players especially Grandmaster to make Malaysia proud in the world chess map.

Thanks to NWM for her immediate posting of the pairings and results of the on-going Merdeka Rapid Team being held in the Cititel Hotel in Midvalley. The 8th round just completed and the players are fighting in the final 9th round. It is the critical and crucial round to decide who will be the winners. GiLoCatur's pick team, the Uzbek connection, was defeated by the Bengal Tigers with 1 - 3 score. While Magic could not stop Chesskidz Men's Team from having the advantage to lead with 1 match point. The latter won by having 1/2 more points than Magic with 2.5 - 1.5 scoreline. On the 3rd board, SMS Gold just managed a draw of 2 - 2 againts Rusty Nails led by IM Goh of Singapore On the 4th board, the Australian team of Klang Valley Koalas won against the International Rhapsody that includes Ian Udani. On the 5th board,Mamak, the Sequel unfortunately was crushed by Crusher that includes two Malaysian players, Soon Wai Cheong and MSSM 2010 U15 champion, Yeap Eng Chiam.

31st August 2010, Kuala Lumpur – The final round to decide the line up of winners for the top 10 teams and other prize winning teams for Merdeka Team Rapid 2010. Best of luck to all teams. Hope you guys win!!!

Najib Wahab, one of the arbiters of the Malaysian Chess Festival 2010, doing the announcements.

The Chesskidz Men’s Team playing on the left side of the picture. The team that is making waves in this current ASTRO Merdeka Team Rapid 2010. They are the current leaders and set to win this tournament.

The school, SK Sabak Kota Baru (U16) left side of the table playing against SK Satria jaya, Kuching (U16) on board 32, round 8 of the ASTRO Merdeka Team Rapid 2010.

The Magic chess team, also making waves in this tournament is playing on Table No. 1 against the Chess kidz Men’s Team. Magic comprise of two brothers from Uzbekistan, 1 WGM from Kazakhstan and 1 from Malaysia (Abdullah Che Hassan).

On Table No. 4, International Rhapsody (left) playing against Klang Valley Koalas (Australia). Both teams are with a slim chance for top spot, if they win both rounds today.

31st August 2010, Kuala Lumpur – Some words from the organisers of the Malaysian Chess Festival 2010.

The Merdeka Blitz event will be held today after the closing ceremony of the the ASTRO Merdeka Team Chess Championship. The entry fee is RM 30 and the event is open to all. A total prize fund of RM 1,100 has been allocated for 10 top finishers of the event with RM400 going to the eventual winner.

Time control for the Blitz is 5 minutes per player per game and it will be played over 9 rounds starting at 2:30 pm and is expected to conclude by 6:00pm.

The ASTRO Arena TV Crew will be covering the event today for a special show on chess...

Monday, August 30, 2010

30th August 2010, Kuala Lumpur – Here are the 8th round team pairings for tomorrow morning, 31st August 2010. Play will start at 9.00 am at the playing hall, CitiTel Mid Valley, Kuala Lumpur.

Top board is the current leader, Chesskidz Men’s Team against combo team, Magic and on second board, Uzbek Connection against Bengal Tigers, currently the second ranked team with 12 MP. Meanwhile Singapore’s Rusty Nails meets Malaysia’s SMS Gold on third board.

Come watch the chess action at the playing hall, 5th Floor, CitiTel Mid Valley, Kuala Lumpur tomorrow morning!! Bring the family and come all and enjoy the chess action by local and international Grandmasters of chess!! Two rounds will be played tomorrow at 9 am and 11 am to complete the 9 round ASTRO Merdeka Rapid Team Open Chess Championship 2010.

30th August 2010, Kuala Lumpur – In the sixth round of the Merdeka Team Rapid, Chesskidz Men’s Team of the Philippines won emphatically over Uzbek Connection team on board 1. This propels the team to the top of the ladder and leading with 12 MP and ahead by 2 clear MP points over other chasing teams behind.

Meanwhile SMS Gold, the top seeded team this year, manages a 3.5-1.5 win over Klang Valley Kiwis in the sixth round and earns the right to meet Chesskidz Men’s Team in the seventh round.

In the seventh round of the ASTRO Merdeka Rapid Team, Bengal Tigers, the 9th seeded team, meets with Mamak, The Sequel team, the 14th seeded team on second board. While on third board, the Indonesian team called Bangka Belitung which beat Penang team in the sixth round, now meets with the combo team from Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-Malaysia, Magic. Magic managed to scrape a win over ASTRO Arena, the men’s team sponsored by ASTRO, which has a GM on its team.

Here are the seventh round pairings and sixth round results of the ASTRO Merdeka Team Rapid:-

30th August 2010, Kuala Lumpur – Here are the latest team rankings after the fifth round play of the Merdeka Rapid Team Open Chess Championship 2010.

Chesskidz Men’s Team are the runaway leaders with 10 matchpoints and 16.5 board points. In second place is Marfori Fighters with 9 MP and 16 pts; third, Uzbek Connection with 9 MP and 15.5 pts. Fourth, Petronas chess team with 8 MP and 15.5 pts and fifth Penang chess team with 8 MP and 15.5 pts. SMS Gold is now lying in 10th position with 8 MP and 13.5 pts.

To see more of the team members’ individual performance, please click here.

30th August 2010, Kuala Lumpur – Chesskidz Mens’ Team meets Uzbek Connection team on top board, while Marfori Fighters will meet Bengal Tigers on second board of the sixth round of the Merdeka Team Rapid chess tournament. On third board, Klang Valley Kiwis will meet SMS Gold and Penang will face-off Bangka Belitung of Indonesia on fourth board. The sixth round will start at 2 pm, this afternoon.

30th August 2010, Kuala Lumpur – Chesskidz Men’s Team wins their fourth match, 3.5 – 0.5 over their opponents the Bengal Tigers. Meanwhile the 2nd and 3rd boards ended in draws. All four teams – Uzbek Connection, ASTRO Arena, Crusher and SMS Gold ended with 1 point each from 4th round.

Young and Adult Union got crushed by Petronas, 0-4 loss in the fourth round play. Marfori Fighters beat the Klang Valley Koalas 3-1 while Rusty Nails from Singapore lost to Magic team comprising of Uzbek, Kazakhstan and Malaysian players in the team. The Sabah team drew with the strong Indonesian chess team called Bangka Belitung. Similarly, Mamak, The Sequel team drew their match with Jakarta A from Indonesia.

30th August 2010, Kuala Lumpur – Here are the round 5 pairings of the Merdeka Team Rapid on the third day of the Malaysian Chess Festival at the CitiTel Mid Valley Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. En. Hamid Abdul Majid and En. Najib Wahab giving their daily dose of reminders and the day’s programme and other rules for the team rapid event yesterday.

On top board, ASTRO Arena is playing Chesskidz Men’s Team and on second board is the Crusher team against Uzbek Connection.

Round 5 play begun at 11.00 am and the players will take a short lunch break. At 2.00 pm the sixth round will take place.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

29 August 2010, Kuala Lumpur – On the second day of the chess festival, the Merdeka Team Rapid Open Chess Championship starts it’s first three rounds today. A surprising result is that Petronas with Malaysia’s no. 1 player, IM Mas Hafizulhelmi got a beating from the team called Crusher. I’ve been informed that they have two GMs on the team and that explains the emphatic score line of 0-4!

SMS Gold went into defence mode when SMS Gold ended with a 2-2 draw with the Philippines’ Marfori Fighters chess team. FM Nicholas Chan saved the team with a major win on board two for SMS Gold preventing the SMS Gold from losing more precious match points.

Fireyrook’s scratch team of Young and Adult Union crashed 3.5 – 0.5 to the Bengal Tigers, where our fourth board saved us the duck with a major draw score.

Magic, the team comprising of the Kazakhstan’s three chess players and Abdullah Che Hassan drew 2-2 with the Mamak, The Sequel chess team, who had Nik Ahmad Farouqi, Sabri Sapirin, Fairin Zakaria and Kamaluddin Yusof.

Rorschach, the chess team that made an impact at the University Malaya’s Team Open Tun Syed Zahiruddin by winning the team open tournament in 2009, lost 1-3 to Sabah chess team during the round 3 play in the afternoon today.

29 August 2010, Kuala Lumpur – Here are the round 4 pairings of the Merdeka Rapid Team for the 30 August 2010, 9.00 am tomorrow morning. On table no. 1 are Chesskidz Men’s Team against Bengal Tigers, which has two GMs on the team.

Second board are the Uzbek Connection which also has two GMs, against Malaysia’s ASTRO Arena, which comprise of GM Ziaur Rahman, IM Jimmy Liew, Izz Saifuddin and Yeoh Li Tian. SMS Gold dropped to table 3 and will meet Crusher team. SMS Gold has IM Mok Tze Meng and FM Nicholas Chan on the team and is the top seeded chess team this time around.

to get some updates of the Malaysian Chess Festival 2010 which is currently running from the 28th August 2010 to 8th September 2010. It is now into its second day of the chess festival and one event, the Merdeka Individual Rapid, has been completed yesterday.

Do drop by to watch some of the chess action at the CitiTel Mid Valley Hotel located in the heart of the Mid Valley Mega Mall Shopping Complex, Kuala Lumpur. There will be four rounds of play for the Merdeka Team Rapid going on tomorrow, 30th August 2010.

Come over ladies and gentlemen and get your taste of one of Malaysia’s longest running chess festival in the country. It is usually conducted in conjunction with the Merdeka celebrations of our country’s independence.